Characterising Metal Objects from Excavations at Owo, Ondo State

Owo, an ancient Yoruba city in Ondo State, occupies a distinctive position in the archaeology of the Yoruba-Benin cultural interface, as demonstrated most famously by the extraordinary terracotta assemblage recovered from the Igbo Laja site by Ekpo Eyo in 1971. While the terracottas have attracted extensive scholarly attention, the metal objects recovered during the same and subsequent excavations have received comparatively limited analytical study. This research characterises metal objects from the Owo excavations held in the Owo Museum of Antiquities, focusing on copper alloy, iron, and lead objects through morphological description, technological examination, and comparative typological analysis. A catalogue of sixty-eight metal objects was compiled, including bangles, rings, bells, fish hooks, and fragmentary casting waste. Technological examination of copper alloy pieces reveals evidence of both casting and cold-working techniques, with some pieces showing surface gilding traces consistent with high-status display items. Iron objects include tools, fasteners, and weaponry elements typical of pre-colonial craft and domestic assemblages. The study situates Owo's metal assemblage within the broader context of Yoruba-Benin metal production and exchange, noting that several copper alloy types find close parallels in dated Benin court assemblages, suggesting either direct importation or shared craft traditions. Future elemental analysis is recommended to test hypotheses about metal sourcing and production centres. Keywords: metal objects, Owo, Yoruba archaeology, copper alloy, Ondo State.